Intelligent Design

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Jan Kochansky of Keedysville and his wife both are scientists and believe schools should not integrate creationism or intelligent design concepts into science education in Washington County Public Schools. With grandchildren attending local schools, Kochansky said the couple has a personal interest in science curriculum. "Evolution should be taught," he said. "It's the basic unifying framework for all of biology. " Kochansky responded to a request by The Herald-Mail to pose a question to the eight candidates running for four open seats on the seven-member Washington County Board of Education.

To the editor: Allan Powell's letter about "faith, science and the difference" in the Saturday Herald Mail merits reconsideration, because Dr. Powell has made some errors that skew his arguments and compromise his conclusions. Dr. Powell states that the most obvious reason intelligent design (ID) is not appropriate for study is that it is not a theory "in any accepted meaning of that term. " The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a theory as "the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another; a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation; an unproven assumption.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Four Greencastle-Antrim School Board candidates were evenly split Monday on the teaching of intelligent design vs. evolution and voter referendums on school building funding. Four of the seven candidates running for the two open seats in the May 17 primary attended a forum in the multipurpose room of the Rescue Hose Co. firehouse. The forum was sponsored by the Greencastle-Antrim Democratic Club and moderated by Frank Mowen.

Critical thinking depends on one thing: facts To the editor: I find it ironic that Richard Giovanoni (Herald-Mail, July 20) would push the idea of critical thinking concerning evolution. The ability to think critically depends on factual evidence and the ability to interpret it. But his apparent eagerness to include creationism in science classes as a counter to evolution contradicts the first requirement for critical thought - evidence. Sadly, there is not a shred of evidence supporting creationism.

Atheist philosopher has written a gem To the editor: Taking a page from Allan Powell's reviews of books, I have a 128-page gem to recommend titled “Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Concept of Nature is almost Certainly False.” It was written by atheist philosopher Thomas Nagel. His major hangup with the current mainstream Darwinism is its inability to provide an explanation of his mind - and ours. It needs to be said upfront that he has not gone off and “got religion.” He wants to find “… a completely different systematic account of nature, one that makes these neither brute facts that are beyond explanation nor the products of divine intervention.” In the current climate of “… speculative Darwinian explanations of practically everything, and armed to the teeth against attacks from religion …” he wants to invite speculation of alternatives.

U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones III handed down a 139-page decision in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District that declared that teaching Intelligent Design in public school science classes was unconstitutional. Since that 2004 decision was made, there have been no federal court cases introduced on that issue. This only means that there have been changes in the strategy of those who are determined to combat the teaching of evolution. Because of the importance of the decision, Judge Jones accepted an invitation to speak to members of Americans United for Separation of Church and State about his reflections on such a controversial case.

Russell F. Williams II, 65 Hagerstown What is your position on science education, particularly with regard to evolution vs. intelligent design? Knowledge of the physical sciences and the scientific method are a lifetime protection for our students. Daily people are bombarded with ads for new methods to lose weight, increase in gas mileage, stop aging, or get relief from pain and disease. People who have not learned what a good scientific study is will be taken in by these often worthless products and treatments.